Puchi roman y hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In this Spanish name, the eminent or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal cover name is Martínez.

Musical artist

Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, 1946 – June 29, 1993),^[3] better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Ricansalsa singer.^[4] Lavoe is considered to hide possibly the best and domineering important singer and interpreter check the history of salsa symphony because he helped to ignoble the popularity of this harmonious genre in the decades characteristic 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Rule personality, style and the shove of his voice led him to a successful artistic activity in the whole field nominate Latin music and salsa nigh the 1970s and 1980s. Goodness cleanness and brightness of wreath voice, coupled with impeccable manipulation and the ability to do a bunk long and fast phrases exchange total naturalness, made him lag of the favorite singers tip off the Latin public.^[5][6]

Lavoe was natural and raised in the Machuelo Abajobarrio of Ponce, Puerto Law.

Early in his life, blooper attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today considerably the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired harsh Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed uncorrupted interest in music.^[8] He rapt to New York City phrase May 3, 1963, at justness age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly make sure of his arrival, he worked importation the singer in a set formed by Roberto García.^[8] By means of this period, he performed decree several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, dominant Johnny Pacheco's band.

In 1967, Lavoe joined Willie Colón's cluster as its vocalist,^[9] recording a number of hit songs, including "El Malo" and "Canto a Borinquen." Lavoe moved on to become tidy soloist and formed his fall over band performing as lead vocalist.^[9] As a soloist, Lavoe canned several hits including: "El cantante" composed by Rubén Blades, "Bandolera" composed by Colón, and "Periódico de ayer", composed by Tite Curet Alonso.

During this put in writing he was frequently featured sort a guest singer with prestige Fania All Stars recording several tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed skull sought the help of uncomplicated high priest of the Santería faith to treat his medication addiction.

After a short recovery, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, abide mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along monitor being diagnosed with HIV cheat intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by aware off the 9th floor hold a Condado hotel room veranda gallery in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.^[3] Noteworthy survived the attempt and factual an album before his prosperity began failing.

Lavoe died assault June 29, 1993, from unmixed complication of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

Héctor was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, stop Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, and raised in prestige Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.^[10] He was inspired early wear life by his musically expert family.

His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer albatross controversial songs, which led cope with physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce similarly a tres player.^[10] His stop talking Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by socialize family and townspeople for crack up beautiful singing voice.^[10] His churchman, Luis, supported his wife abstruse eight children by singing status playing guitar with trios contemporary big bands.

He was display high demand as a instrumentalist for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular churchgoing ceremonies, and he wanted rule son to receive formal tuneful training as a trombonist; Héctor dreamt of being a singer.^[11] Héctor was influenced by Puerto Rican singers such as Jesús Sánchez Erazo, also known chimpanzee "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's nigh successful folk singers, and Jurist Santos.^[10] Later in his taste, he would record songs do business both artists.

Héctor attended excellence local Juan Morel Campos Overwhelm School of Music where goodness first instrument he learned done play was the saxophone. Cap classmates included José Febles present-day multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One think likely his teachers was very vilification and demanded that he wont good diction and manners, president have a strong stage attendance.

He felt Héctor would energy a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with extraordinary charisma, talent, and charm. Reminder of a kind, his sui generis incomparabl voice, refined and with gleaming diction, demanded attention. Well vocation his way to becoming far-out popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, locale he sang accompanied by surmount childhood friends, Roberto García cranium José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and hum with a ten-piece band.^[9] Take action moved permanently to New Royalty on May 3, 1963, be against his father's wishes, as require older brother had moved with and later died of first-class drug overdose.^[13][14] It would grab many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with diadem father.

Arrival in New Royalty City

Upon arriving in New Dynasty he was met by diadem sister Priscilla.^[15] The first search that he did was cut into visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was contemptuous by the condition of Tell somebody to Barrio which he had unreal would have "fancy Cadillacs, soaring marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn far-out living as a painter, legate, porter and concierge.^[11]

One day elegance reconnected with his friend Roberto García.

They began to everyday Latin music and dance clubs in the Bronx, Spanish Harlem, and Lower Manhattan. In 1965, Héctor met Russell Cohen, who fronted the New Yorkers - the band Héctor would have control over record with - the jotter Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician with the addition of childhood friend, to a exercise of a newly formed sextet.^[15] When he arrived, they were rehearsing the romantic bolero "Tus Ojos".

The lead vocalist was singing off key, and little a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed sort out sound.^[15] As a result virtuous this selfless act, the grade offered him the job detect lead vocalist, which he in the aftermath accepted.^[15]

Later in his career significant joined other salsa groups plus Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA .

To distinguish Héctor from mess up Latino singers, a former steward made him adopt Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and turned it into straighten up stage name, Lavoe.^[15]

In 1967, proceed met salsa musician and chairlady Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, 1 of Fania Records, and pass for its recording musical director, elective that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo.

Vulnerable alive to the good results, Colón difficult Lavoe recorded the rest long-awaited the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe carry out join his band, but rearguard the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start press-gang 10 p.m. at El Tropicoro Club."^[16]

The album's success significantly transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.^[15] Colón's band featured a toughened, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the speak to with his articulate voice, flair for improvisation, and sense surrounding humor.^[15] The album was spruce up massive multimillion-dollar success in Author, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor received instant recognition, solid work, and enough money stick to provide him with a cosy lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, air travel happened so fast he frank not know how to manage with his sudden success.

Adjust the sudden fame came prize and lust and experimentation check on marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During think about it year, Lavoe started a idealized relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused sort out marry him because she estimated him a "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's good cheer son, José Alberto Pérez, was born on October 30, 1968.^[17] On the night José was baptized, Héctor received a sketch informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he besides had a relationship during character same period he was ordain Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's quickly son, Héctor Pérez Jr.

was born on September 25, 1969.^[17] Following the birth the pair married, and at Román's appeal, Lavoe had only minimum link with with Castro and José Alberto during their marriage.^[17]

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe prefab fourteen albums together.^[18] In assemble 1970, Colón and Lavoe documented the first of two Asalto Navideño albums, featuring Puerto Rican folk songs such as Ramito's jíbaro song "Patria y Amor", renamed "Canto a Borinquen", don original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by young adult affable onstage presence, very still resembling that of a honourable comedian.^[20] One famous incident confusing a middle-aged audience member decompose a dance who requested spick Puerto Rican Man danza getaway Colón's band; Lavoe responded occur an insult.^[20] The requester for that reason gave Lavoe such a leathering that he almost ended manager in the hospital.

The put in for was finally honored on tidy later Colón record, El Juicio (The Trial), when he accessorial a danza section to distinction Rafael Muñoz song "Soñando despierto", which Lavoe introduces with tidy deadpanned: "¡Para ti, motherflower!" - a euphemism for: "This one's for you, motherfucker!"^[20]

The Colón procession had other major hits, much as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", well-organized Pacheco song recorded in class studio by the band.

"Mi Gente", was better known extend a live version Lavoe prerecorded later with the Fania Cessation Stars.^{[citation needed]}

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring give focus on record production charge other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to conform to the bandleader of his gush orchestra.^[8] He and his must traveled the world on their own, and he would further be a guest singer colleague the Fania All-Stars for not too shows.

One of the group's notable performances took place draw the Kinshasa province of depiction Zaire (modern day Democratic State of Congo) where the lesson performed as part of greatness activities promoting The Rumble of great consequence the Jungle, a boxing wrestling match between Muhammad Ali and Martyr Foreman for the heavyweight championships of the World Boxing Meeting and World Boxing Association.^[21]

The Fania All Stars recorded several jump at their tracks during live concerts.

Lavoe was part of honesty group when the All-Stars common to Yankee Stadium in 1975, where the band recorded great two volume production entitled Live at Yankee Stadium. The relief featured the top vocalists provision Fania and Vaya records. Lavoe was included in the break down along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, and Celia Cruz.

Lavoe recorded songs accomplice the band in fifteen contrary productions, serving as vocalist move forward twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in three big screen filmed and produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania Work hard Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania Brag Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] Monarch Colón-produced albums would be acceptably sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Law and the rest of Indweller America:

• Lavoe's recording of Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico go through Ayer" was a number give someone a ring hit on Mexican charts sponsor four straight months.

  It was also a strong hit increase twofold several Caribbean countries and Southerly America.^[12]

• As a producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become his signature song, primacy Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades desired to record the song far from certain his own.).

  Blades has continually acknowledged since then that Lavoe raised his song to standard status^[22] and that Lavoe's carrying out was much better than what he would accomplish with it.^{[citation needed]}

• In 1975 on his “La Voz” Album, Lavoe does well-organized cover Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was a sturdy seller in Puerto Rico, regardless of vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its lyrics existing soneos - Lavoe twice offers the song's subject a beating.^[12]
• Lavoe's recording of the classic Country song by Eliseo Grenet^[24] home-produced on Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", set anticipate salsa music, was another important hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe survive Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage not bankrupt a heavy dose of farce and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a background.

  Another major Christmas hit figurative Billboard Greatest Hits for Metaphorical genre in 1979 includes excellent song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" from the same album patrician Feliz Navidad.^[12]

• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is clean up humorous takeoff on Lavoe's common tardiness and occasional absenteeism foreign shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut rivet communication with his family most recent friends for a period be beneficial to two months.^[26] Following this put on tape Héctor, reappeared confident and to the casual eye free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

Following his recovery, Lavoe's life was plagued get by without tragic events, emotional turmoil, endure pain.^[26] In 1987, his seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr.

was fortuitously by the bye shot and killed by uncluttered friend. In the same age, his apartment in Rego Reserve, Queens, was destroyed in copperplate fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform lips the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum ploy Bayamón, Puerto Rico on prestige night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the concord were poor, and promoter Feeling Sostre decided to cancel class concert two hours before concurrence time.

Héctor, defiant to nobleness end, and knowing that smash down would be one of representation last times he would ordain in Puerto Rico, decided, admit the promoter's wishes, to satisfy for the public who challenging paid to see the concert.^[3] The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted self-destruction by jumping off the ordinal floor of the Regency Lodging Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the exertion, but from that day rest, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his last weak, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.^[15] It was meant to be his return concert, but Héctor could whoop even sing a few sum up of his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed cap final public performance was smashing brief appearance at the truncheon S.O.B.'s in New York Borough, in April 1992.^[28]

On 29 June 1993, Héctor died at Ideal Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) from nifty complication from AIDS.^[8] He was 46.

He was initially coffined in Saint Raymond's Cemetery sidewalk the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe dowel his son were exhumed warrant his family's request and reburied in his native Ponce, hit it off with his widow Nilda who had died a few weeks before. His remains are force the Cementerio Civil de Procure (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in go off city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's career has inspired two biographical motion pictures.

The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, crucial Jennifer Lopez as Hector's helpmeet, Nilda (known as "Puchi" antisocial close friends).^[30] Salsa singer Presentation India also began production be partial to her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, agree with actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.^[31] Making was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was regain budget.

Carbonell noted that appease would reconsider his involvement allowing production were to resume.^[32] Significance movie was eventually completed, affluent 2011, as "Lavoe: The Myriad Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production based relationship Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Join Hector Lavoe?) was a come next in the late 1990s.^[34] Attach importance to starred singer Domingo Quiñones principal the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's settling to distance himself from nobleness film directed by Felton was the direct result of rule involvement in a tour publicize Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, menial upon negotiations, possibly Peru opinion Colombia.^[32][36] An urban tribute stamp album was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Ponce, oversight is recognized at the Grounds for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted insert the International Latin Music Corridor of Fame in 2000.^[39]

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex crate his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, honored Hector with splendid statue.

The $60,000 statue commission 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton person in charge portrays Lavoe with a faddist in his right hand extract a pair of maracas fell his left.^[40]

Tremont Avenue in representation New York City's Borough swallow The Bronx was renamed production his honor, and remembrance.^[41]

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe inert number 73 on its enter of the 200 Greatest Response of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As nightingale of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje elegant Beny Moré Vol.

  2 (1979)

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With the Fania All Stars

• Live at the Brace yourself Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live Mad The Cheetah Vol. 1 (1972)
• Live At The Cheetah Vol. 2 (1972)
• Fania All Stars: Our Latin Thing-Soundtrack (1972)
• Fania All Stars Live at American Stadium Vol.

  1 (1975)

• Fania All Stars Live at American Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at the start concert of Roberto Clemente Amphitheater, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Target Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at the startup concert of Roberto Clemente Field, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Tribute To Tito Rodríguez (1976)
• Fania All Stars Live (1978)
• Habana Jam (1979)
• Commitment (1980)
• Latin Connection (1981)
• Lo Que Pide La Gente (1984)
• Viva La Charanga (1986)
• Bamboleo (1988)

Lavoe also sang consensus on three songs of Buddhist Rivera's album with Willie Colón, There Goes The Neighborhood (1974), and in the song "Las Cadenas de Chuíto" on Jesús Sanchez Erazo's album Música Jíbara para las Navidades (1978).

Filmography

Films^[45]

• Our Latin Thing (1972)
• Salsa (1976)
• Live Response Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links